The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-05-05
BOYS WHO SUCCEED.
THE VAST ARMY IN NEW YORK CITY
WHO LABOR TO LIVE.

Boys with Homes and without Homes.
The Life of Working Boy in the
City Examples OF Marked suc-
cess.
The last census placed the population Of
New York city at l 100000, and statisticians
tell us that fully 100000 of the number are
i children. By further subdivision we reach
the startling fact that the number Of New
York boys who earn their own living, or con-
tribute to it, is fully 10000, quite an army in
ITSELF There is no exaggeration in these
| figures. These working boys may be divided
into two classes-those with homes and those
without. The first comprise about $4,000,
for there are fully 1000 who, having no
| parents or being driven from home by cruelty
or neglect or bad conduct, have no abiding
place except the lodging houses established
| for their benefit or such holes and corners as
they may find. The boy with a home has an
| immense advantage over his homeless brother,
for in the event of his being thrown out Of
| employment he can fall back upon his
J parents or other relatives for food and shelter
until he finds another place; yet the homeless
class turn out a larger percentage OF smart
and industrious men than the more favored
class
The life Of working boy usually begins
between the ages of 10 and IA, though the
street boys often begin at an earlier age.
The problem of work being presented to him,
he usually seeks employment in an office.
Like the drift wood in turbulent river, the
boy Is the creature of accident, for three or
four may start out together and by the
merest chance find their paths diverging
withouGany effort on their part.
A well known stock broker once told the
writer that he and boy neighbor left school
at the some time to begin the real struggle Of
life. ave came down town." said he, ION a
horse car to the city hall and looked for an
opening. As my companion was the younger
we had agreed that he should make the first
effort. Passing down Nassau street, we
noticed placard in astationery store window
announcing the want Of boy. Tom went in
only to find that another boy had just secured
the position. As he turned with a disap-
pointed face to leave the store customer
asked him u few questions aud engaged him
on condition that his references proved salts
factory. The gentleman was lawyer, with
an Office near by, and as they came out
learned how fortunate Tom had been. sup
pose there was bit of envy in my face, foI
the lawyer asked if was looking for employ
ment, and being answered in the afflrmativ
he told me of a stock broker who wanted 4
bright, active boy. Well, Tom and 1 both
got places that day. He went on his line, ]
on miIe, and i'll time he studied law, was ad,
mittsd to the bar and became leading poll
b. 7
In the street, learned the mysteries of puts
and calls and all the rest of the ways of Wall
street, and as you see am now broker my
self and this morning engaged another office
boy, his predecessor having risen to the dig
nifty Of clerk, as l once did myself"
This is the history of many man who ia
now prosperous and respected.
A boy once walked into the office of John
Roach and asked for employment The
famous shipbuilder, though once poor boy
himself, was so busy with some important
estimates that he gave the applicant rather
an abrupt and negative answer. The boy had
met with several similar answers that day,
yet he was not discouraged. On the walls Of
the office were hung drawings of ships and
steamers, and almost on level with his own
head was the sectional plan of an ocean
steamer. Boylike, he examined these draw
ings with interest, and, there happening to
be piece Of paper on the table, he fell to
copying the sectional drawing. While thus
employed Mr.. Roach, supposing himself to be
alone, began calculating aloud.
"Let me see" said he; "that makes a total
Of eighty-six tons of steel; now four times
eighty-six is"
"Three hundred and forty four" said the
boy, imagining himself in school for the
moment
$50 it is" replied Mr.. Roach, looking at
the boy in surprise, for he had forgotten all
about him "Who are youp
"Im the boy who asked you if you didn't
want one"
"Ah, yes; but didn't say no9"
ayes, sir"
"What have you been doing therep de-
manded the shipbuilder, seeing that the boy
had defaced the back of valuable drawing,
though the little fellow had no idea the sheet
Of paper had anything on the under side
II was copying that drawing, sir; was it
any harm"
Mr.. Roach, naturally kind hearted looked
at the paper and saw that the boy was good
draughtsman for his age. This and his
familiarity with the multiplication table in
duced the shipbuilder to make further in
quiries, which finally led to the boy being
given place. He was sent to the engineers
room, where his talents soon developed, and
by the time he reached manhood young "344,"
rs MIR. Roach humorously called him, became
a thorough engineer and Is now famous
naval designer.
An Office boy in the employ of a maker Of
models for inventors once sat by the stove
and listened to a customer describe machine
he wished made. The machinist examined
the drawings and saw defect which would
defeat the end in view. Being an honest man
he called attention to the fact, and suggested
further study. The inventor laid down his
plans in disgust, and remarking that he
would call for them, went away. Being idle
for the moment the boy took the drawings
and examined them. When the inventor
came back The boy was alone
~ wonder how l can get over the diff
Guilty." said the man to himself, as he glanced
over the plans before putting them in his
pocket. "The principle is correct if can
only adopt it,"
"That's easy enough SIR" said the boy.
GAn you have to do is to lengthen the arm Of
your crank and so increase your power"
1t was an inspiration, aud thus one Of the
most important improvements in steam en-
gines was decided by the discovery Of an
office boy, who became a noted inventor
himself in after years--New York Star.
1se Mind Readers.
Mind reading or aBishopism" is called BY